Neck to knee

By Lia Bichel
THE Greater Dandenong mayor and YMCA have defended a decision to ban skimpy clothes for a private event at a local pool during Ramadan next year.
A Women’s Only Swim session which is held outside normal pool hours has been operating at the Oasis Pool for the past two years.
Mayor Jim Memeti said the group asked the council for support to allow a dress code during the two-hour one-off event.
Council made an application to VCAT which approved an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act to allow a dress code of knee length shorts and T-shirts for people over 10 years of age.
“The council believes this is an opportunity for the broader community to learn more about Ramadan and the Muslim faith, and we encourage all members of Greater Dandenong’s diverse community to participate,” Mayor Jim Memeti said.
Cr Memeti said the decision was “the right way to go.”
“This group is not only Muslim women, it’s a multi-faith women’s group,” he said.
“The City of Greater Dandenong has over 156 different nationalities, and 56 per cent of our residents are born overseas so we believe it is very important in educating our constituents. We have had some drownings in the City of Greater Dandenong, one in the creek and one at the beach, and we are trying to get as many people as possible to come to the swimming pool and learn to swim. We believe it’s very important.”
YMCA Acting Chief Executive Matt Feutrill said the decision was an opportunity for the broader community to learn more about Ramadan and the Muslim faith, and encouraged all members of Dandenong’s diverse community to participate.
“We always seek to respond to the individual needs of the particular communities where we work,” Mr Feutrill said.
“We support Dandenong City Council’s social inclusion policy and stand strongly beside the council on the need to show greater respect, tolerance and understanding of other cultures.”
The City of Greater Dandenong will engage further with the community leading up to the event with a focus on education about Ramadan.
The community event will be held at the same time the women’s only program is usually held, on Sunday 21 August 2011, 6.15pm to 8.15pm.